Perimenopause Moans #3

[Swordshead]

Gosh I’ve had horrible breast pain for months too I was convinced I had breast cancer

I thought the same too. If it's any consolation, breast pain apparently isn't a symptom of bc. The list of symptoms of peri and how vague they are is just so bloody ridiculous

 

[Anotherdayanotherwalk]

Does anyone have any tips to help with flooding? I'm on day four of what I thought was finally a more reasonable period after some really heavy ones over the past 18 months. I thought my period was pretty much over when suddenly this afternoon out of nowhere I had huge gushes and large clots over about 1-2 minutes leaving me washing my trousers out in the toilets (fortunately there are individual cubicle ones I managed to hobble to reasonably discretely). There is no way to describe it other than horrendous. How on earth do I know when it might happen again? Am I destined to walk round each time I have my period with a tampon, sanitary towel and period knickers on just in case which is what I'm currently sporting for my commute home.

 

[Clementine]

Hello, apologies for just coming in and not contributing previously but I kept forgetting to check if there was a perimenopause thread and would then get distracted by the daft influencers threads on here

Also, apologies for the massive vent I’m about to unload and questions that have probably been answered many times

I’m 46, haven’t had a period since last November, and they’d been erratic previously since 2020 (had 6 in that year). Was tested for various things in 2020 and told I couldn’t be perimenopausal as I was too young and my levels were fine (I know blood tests aren’t the thing that we should be going on anyway). In a fit of pique a few weeks ago I booked a menopause test at a Randox clinic (they seen me coming). I genuinely feel I’ve lost most of my brain cells and I don’t understand anything anymore so I don’t even know how to make sense of my results I have a Drs appointment on Monday and I don’t know what to ask for/don’t know what I need, don’t even know if I’m perimenopausal or it’s the added weight I’m carrying that is having an impact on me.

My mental health is in the bin and I get so frustrated/angry. Have had to do a few primal screams recently, but then I don’t know if it’s the perimenopause or my life is just proving to be quite frustrating. I’ve had some dark dark thoughts and for a while there had the intrusive thought of just tipping up to A&E and asking to be sectioned (I’d never do this)

Sorry for such a mememe post but tried to write a post on Reddit today and it wouldn’t post because you can’t write about lab results.

 

[Woolmercardington]

I agree with you. I think it’s fair to say that Davina has an addictive personality and has taken it way too far with exercise and, I expect, food. Her face looks so thin and drawn with sunken cheeks.

I agree. I think she looks absolutely addicted to exercise. I really think there's only so much we can do without being utterly miserable.

I mean, I had every good intention of going to Salsa class tomorrow night, but it seems that the walking day trip I had a couple of days ago has finished me off for the remainder of this week. As much as I would love to be more active, my energy and physical tolerability for activity comes in waves. At the moment it appears very low and I would get no pleasure or benefit of pushing myself.

 

[missaustraliaaddict]

I get quite bad palpitations as well, someti they take my breath away, they're that full on, I think I'm going to have a heart attack sometimes!

 

[CallaLily]

Right, here’s a new symptom for you…
I have had straight hair all my life. Over the past year I’ve noticed it looks wavy when I wash it.
I went to a new hairdresser last month and she said “You’ve got lovely, wavy hair!” I told her it’s always been straight and she said Peri can change it!

This is a little bit late in the day but, I'm now wondering if the overnight change from straight hair to Kate Bush on acid hair, that happened to me at 13 was hormonal.

 

[veronica71]

Does anyone have any tips to help with flooding? I'm on day four of what I thought was finally a more reasonable period after some really heavy ones over the past 18 months. I thought my period was pretty much over when suddenly this afternoon out of nowhere I had huge gushes and large clots over about 1-2 minutes leaving me washing my trousers out in the toilets (fortunately there are individual cubicle ones I managed to hobble to reasonably discretely). There is no way to describe it other than horrendous. How on earth do I know when it might happen again? Am I destined to walk round each time I have my period with a tampon, sanitary towel and period knickers on just in case which is what I'm currently sporting for my commute home.

I’m not sure what to suggest but keep an eye on your iron levels as my mum had this and ended up quite anaemic xx

 

[AlwaysSummer]

I’ve had like 3 separate periods in the last 28 days and currently it’s so painful I pretty much passed out yesterday between doses of mefanimic acid (what they put me on when naproxen wasn’t touching it). Is anyone having severe cramps and pain while on HRT?

I’ve been feeling like there must be something to diagnose other than just ‘painful periods’ but haven’t really pushed for anything. Ultrasound didn’t show endometriosis. Can they even treat that if it IS diagnosed?

I have a copper coil which maybe I could switch out for a mirena if that would make a difference? I’m just wary of synthetic hormones.

It’s pretty debilitating basically needing to sleep 12+ hours a day and have a constant hot water bottle. Any advice appreciated!

Sounds awful! If your periods are less than 20 days apart the NHS guidance is to see your GP. Please don’t accept that the debilitating pain is normal and you need to put up with it.

I went on HRT at 45 specifically because of super heavy and painful periods like yours that left me curled up in a ball on the sofa for 2 days every month, on occasion the pain caused me to throw up. This started from the age of 39 and progressively got worse over 5-6 years. I’m afraid the several forms and strengths of HRT I tried for a year made no difference and eventually I stopped it. I had other side effects from it that outweighed the positives. I think there is something about artificial hormones and how they affect some women as apart from the combined pill, every other hormonal treatment I’ve used (implant, mini pill) have been a complete disaster in the past and I’ve had to discontinue due the side effects.

It may be a complete coincidence and totally anecdotal, but the thing that made a difference was starting intermittent fasting- 14-16 hours a day and making sure my diet was predominantly fresh food which lots of veg, fruit, lean protein and good carbs. Within a month my periods went to medium flow and totally tolerable. This has been the case for 2 years now, I no longer fear the time of the month and can fiction despite clearly going through peri.

Please don’t accept that what you are going through should be tolerated and push for more tests and specialist referrals. Sending hugs x

 

[Larkingaboot]

Can anyone help with the blood tests and timing through cycle? Gunna get booked in this week as I can’t take the crushing anxiety, hot flushes and no sleep any more.

Have zero energy or motivation and I could easily stay in bed all day and lie in a trance. Sex drive has completely gone over the last 10 months. No interest what so ever.

Feel in panic mode or shattered all the time.

And my armpit BO is off the chart

Just feel such a different person, like I have no personality or that my personality is anger, tiredness or rejection

 

[HumphreyB]

there seems to be a huge lack of education when it comes to GP’s. i’m hearing more and more from women i know who said they were just dismissed by their GP’s. male and female GP’s , too young, not enough symptoms. all had to go and pay privately to see gynecologist and it was only then they managed to get access to hrt

 

[neverbeeninfluenced]

Is it a specialist Menopause clinic? Is there a gynaecology clinic they can refer you to? Sorry you are going through all that, it’s so hard.

No it isn’t a specialist menopause clinic just an in house specialist on hormones / menopause
- sorry if this is the same thing. I actually found her the least ever clued up person on peri menopause ever. She was fixated on the fact that my periods hadn’t changed, they had just not enough for her liking. Likewise I wasn’t getting regular hot flushes so to her I wasn’t getting the main symptoms somebody should expect. Because apparently there are only 2 symptoms.
I’ve had a word with myself and if I don’t get the answers I want I’ll just request a GP appointment like I did last time, only I won’t leave it 6 months. I was right last time and I know my body better than they do!

 

[maytoseptember]

Anyone tried these mushroom gummies? Keeps popping up on my socials and Trust pilot reviews are good

Don’t bother, I fell for the marketing and the glowing reviews and might as well have been eating fruit pastilles for all the difference I felt

 

[BerlinILoveYou]

I'm so ready to get off this bloody emotional roller coaster. I really hope the doctor prescribes me some HRT and it helps. Feels particularly rough today.

 

[zetta buttons]

I've spread outwards. I've got this awful heavy tummy that doesn't look good in anything. At the moment, my ankle is swollen due to a bit of an injury, so my transformation into my mum is complete.

I’ve always had a tummy (it’s partly the way I stand and my ribs) and even at my smallest it was there. Now however, it goes up and down like a yoyo which I find quite hard to dress for. My mum’s the same though and when she was really ill 18 months ago and really small, her tummy was still there.

It’s hard to reconcile in your mind though isn’t it? That the person you are in your head isn’t the person who looks back at you in the mirror. I don’t feel 44, even typing those numbers feels terrifying. Yet I know I’m looking it nowadays.

 

[Fanny Muchmore]

I've gained 10 pounds and it all seems to be boobs, hips and arse. I've gone until 46 years of years having the hips and arse of a teenage boy, and now suddenly I've got a fat ass? What?

 

[Rubberdungeon]

I’ve read some books to try to understand the changes and symptoms I was experiencing a bit better.

I didn’t buy the books, if I had, they would still be in the shelf unread as I’m not a book reader, so I just borrowed them from the library.

They gave me some clarity on things I just didn’t understand. Having understood things a bit more, I felt more confident in myself when I spoke with my GP. These are the books I read, I’m sure there are other good ones too.

1. The Menopause Brain by Dr Louise Mosconi
2. You Are Not Broken by Dr Kelly Casperson
3. The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

 

[Hold my beans]

@Clementine - a couple of friends postmenopause didn't have a single hot flush and I've been fortunate so far not to have them in the day, just nighttime I'm waking up every hour sweating in this stupid heat

I'd give that bin a good kicking if it makes you feel better

 

[cb76xx]

Please can i have some validation. Ive gone from a hot flash here and there perhaps once a week to about 10 today out of nowhere. Im sweaty and bothered and so bloody hot. Also vertigo all week. Im in hell.

 

[veronica71]

Anyone else struggling with the heat - I love summer but hot flushes (plus the addition of antidepressants which make it harder to deal with the heat) are making me wish it was cooler. My hair is like Monica on vacation in friends and I can’t wear make up because my face is just covered in sweat… I think I’m going to buy a proper old fashioned fan and swoon when it all gets too much

 

[really_whythough]

Also feeling pretty crappy though I will say my GP referred me to a great Gynae dept who did my prescription and review and all meds have been on NHS prescription (which could cost as little as 20-odd quid a year).

My friend has used Newsom Clinic and it sounds very expensive for essentially the same outcome (albeit with more ‘sessions’ and appointments which I don’t feel I’ve needed).

I brought up testosterone at my last review and the nurse said let’s try getting your estrogen up first. They did also suggest mirena instead of progesterone tablets but I haven’t gone for that yet.

I am in London so not sure if that’s made a positive difference but wanted to say it IS possible through NHS routes. Although I did need to turn 40 to be listened to I feel.

Sending strength to everyone going through it! Worst for me at the moment is the huge increase in adhd traits. I’m as disctractable as a confused kitten ALL the flipping time.